“It would have been nice if you had informed us in advance that you were bringing the young lady.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give prior notice. The situation was too urgent. It would be best to prepare some clothes suitable for the child.”
“Of course.”
The Duke of Cartellani beckoned to Elia.
“Come here.”
As she walked over with short, quick steps, the knights who had been sitting looked at her with bright, twinkling eyes.
Their gazes were so innocent that it was hard to believe these men had just returned from hunting monsters.
“Their combat skills were terrifying…”
But the way they looked at her was too gentle.
The branch resting on Elia’s shoulder glanced at the knights and said,
[They already seem to have fallen for you, Elia.]
No one noticed the branch on her shoulder. Only the Guardian of the World Tree could see it.
“Fallen for me, my foot. Don’t say nonsense.”
[Even when I say something nice, you always take it the wrong way.]
“How is that nice? It’s just unnecessary.”
[Tch, I’m sulking now.]
“Words can’t sulk, Branch.”
[Fine. Do whatever you want.]
The Duke of Cartellani seated Elia beside him, and she sank into the deep chair.
Her head barely poked above the table.
“Your Grace, we can’t see the young lady’s face.”
“Did she fall under the table?”
From where the knights sat at the far end of the long dining table, it looked as though Elia had slipped under.
“That won’t do.”
The Duke reached out, lifted Elia, and sat her on his lap.
“Can you see her now?”
Suddenly sitting on the Duke’s knee, Elia was momentarily flustered.
“Is this even okay?”
“Now the eye level is just perfect.”
“Young lady, if it’s uncomfortable, you can come sit on my lap. My legs are sturdier than His Grace’s.”
As Dmitri pointed to his muscular thighs, the Duke frowned.
“Too big isn’t good either. Bear with it, little one. I’ll have a chair made to fit you.”
“Aren’t you uncomfortable, Your Grace?”
Elia asked, turning her head with an apologetic expression.
The Duke shook his head.
“Not at all.”
Elia was the only one who felt awkward.
Soon, food was served on the table.
Elia blinked at the sight. Was this really a banquet meal?
Banquets usually featured dazzling arrays of food, but on this table, there was nothing but a whole roasted boar.
That was it. Nothing else.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen proper meat.”
“There was still a pig left?”
“Apparently, Norman had the servants hunt a wild boar.”
“Impressive that they caught one in this weather.”
Dmitri stood up confidently.
“I’ll do the carving.”
As he held out his hand, Norman handed him a kitchen knife without hesitation.
Dmitri expertly carved the roasted boar and distributed it onto plates. He’d clearly done this before.
The large boar was quickly reduced to bare bones.
Of course, the best and most delicious parts went to the Duke.
“Norman, bring out the leftover alcohol.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Norman signaled to the servants, and they brought in a large oak barrel.
Not wine—an actual barrel.
Dmitri recognized it immediately.
“Oh, it’s beer.”
“Norman got it specially from the Osman trading company. Drink as much as you like.”
“How long has it been since I’ve had beer!”
Beer mugs appeared, and this time, Deputy Commander Campbell opened the barrel and poured the beer for the knights.
Unfortunately, Elia was given warm milk.
To Elia, this was a sparse and rough banquet. Far from the kind of grand feast she imagined.
Still, the atmosphere was wonderful.
As Elia chewed the meat the Duke had cut for her, she once again sensed the deep bond among them.
The way they looked at each other radiated absolute trust.
This was why no one had been able to win them over in the past—because of their unwavering loyalty and trust in one another.
Something that could never be found in the betrayal-ridden royal palace.
Elia’s eyes welled up again as she ate the food and wore the clothes they had kindly given her.
But she didn’t cry.
“Just as promised, I’ll repay them only as much as the candy debt… and then leave.”
Elia resolved firmly.
The next morning
Meril entered the room with a bowl of wash water.
Elia was already awake.
“Oh my, you’re already up, my lady?”
“Yes.”
“Let me help you wash up.”
Meril gently wiped Elia’s face with a towel and then brought over a dress.
“You get to dress like a proper young lady today. We found clothes that should fit you. They belonged to Steward Norman’s daughter.”
“His daughter?”
“Yes, the steward brought them himself.”
“Thank you.”
Elia was genuinely touched by their thoughtfulness.
“Just hang in there a little longer for new clothes. We’re going to collect supplies from the Count of Zamel soon.”
“Collect them?”
“Yes, we’re going to get the reward for the recent spider monster subjugation.”
“You’re going personally?”
“It’s safer that way. The roads are dangerous.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
“We have to go through the monster mountain range.”
“Can’t they deliver it instead?”
Meril explained the situation with the Zamel household.
Their military strength was too weak to handle transportation themselves. That’s why the powerful Duke’s house handled both the delivery and the reward collection.
They had also asked for clothes suitable for Elia—she was grateful for that.
Elia changed into the sky-blue dress Meril brought and ate breakfast alone in her room.
The Duke had informed her in advance that he had a busy morning and wouldn’t be joining her.
Such a thoughtful gesture.
After eating, Elia headed out to the training grounds where the knights were drilling.
But she heard the Duke’s voice coming from the hallway.
“What? They said it’s become difficult?”
Elia instinctively hid behind the wall.
Peeking out, she saw the Duke talking to Steward Norman.
“Did the Zamel household really say that?”
“Yes, Master. They said the ship transporting the goods sank, and they suffered massive losses. They said this month will be difficult…”
“That’s terrible. We’re already short on food.”
“They said they’ll definitely deliver next month.”
“Did they promise for sure next month?”
“Yes, they said so.”
“There’s no helping it, then. Open the food storage and distribute a month’s worth of rations to the people.”
“But then, Your Grace…”
“Don’t worry about me. We just need to endure this month.”
“…Yes, Master.”
Norman’s expression didn’t look good.
If the already-impoverished Duchy opened its food stores, the Duke himself might have to go hungry.
“I want to help.”
Elia had long known that the Duchy constantly suffered from food shortages.
They couldn’t produce their own food and had to rely on imports—which were also unreliable.
The region wasn’t attractive to merchants, either. No special products, rough terrain… There was no incentive for trading companies to risk coming.
Elia leaned against the wall, deep in thought.
A way for the Duchy to sustain itself without borrowing hands.
“Wait… the Count of Zamel… that man…”
Why was she only remembering this now?
The Zamel family was the one that took advantage of the Duchy.
When their family head changed, they also changed their attitude toward the Duchy.
They never paid the full price for the military support they received.
In the past, Elia herself had exploited this fact to corner the Duke’s house—by making food procurement through the Count of Zamel more difficult.
And back then, she had heard something from the Count:
‘When I said the ship sank and we couldn’t send the supplies, those fools believed it right away. They may be strong, but they’re dim-witted.’
‘Did you keep your promise to send food the following month?’
‘Of course not. I said everything was stolen, and they believed that too.’
‘And the next month?’
‘I told them this year was tough, and I’d send it next year if we had a good harvest. They even pitied me. Can you believe it? Those paupers pitying me—I was offended.’
Elia thought to herself.
